Halt drone attacks, demands Kayani

ISLAMABAD " The Tripartite Commission composed of senior military representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan has reviewed the security situation in the areas along the Pak-Afghan border. During the Commission's 25th meeting held in Kabul on Friday, they discussed measures to improve the effectiveness of the ongoing operations in the respective areas and expressed satisfaction at the existing level of cooperation. The delegations were headed by General Bismullah Khan, Chief of the General Staff Afghan National Army; General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Army, and General David D McKiernan, Commander International Security Assistance Forces, Afghanistan. According to ISPR, General Kayani also met Afghan President Hamid Karzai on his special invitation. Agencies add: The heads of the Afghan and Pakistani armies, and the commander of the Nato force in Afghanistan, met in Kabul Friday to review efforts to fight insurgents straddling the border. One of the main topics of the Tripartite Commission meeting was the establishment of centres along the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier to improve intelligence-sharing, the Nato-led force said in a statement. One centre has already been established near the Khyber Pass that links the countries and around three others are planned, an International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) spokesman said separately. A larger Joint Coordination Centre is also envisaged 'to disrupt terrorist activity at the borders and will require the joint effort of all military forces along the border', Isaf Captain Kevin Callahan said in the statement. The commission brings the Afghan and Pakistani militaries together every few months, with Isaf as a mediator, to improve border relations. Gen Kayani, Gen Bismullah and Gen McKiernan also signed a charter to formalise their commitment to the commission, Isaf said. Gen Kayani asked the US to stop drone attacks in tribal areas of the country and termed them counterproductive in war against terrorism and extremism. He made this demand during the meeting of tripartite commission. The meeting was also attended by Director General Military Operations from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The commanders also discussed the prevailing condition in the tribal areas along the Pakistan-Afghan border. DGMOs from Pakistan and Afghanistan briefed the participants about achievements so far made in the war against terrorism, besides current situation at Pak-Afghan border, sources added. Sources said that Gen Kayani taking up the matter of drone attacks in tribal areas told the participants that the drone attacks are counterproductive in fighting militancy and in fact they are giving rise to extremism as many innocent people are being killed. Demanding an immediate end to such attacks, the Army Chief said Pakistani forces are fully capable of handling militancy in their own territory. He emphasised that Afghan and Isaf forces should look out for extremists' elements on the Afghan side of border and emphasised the need for broad-based intelligence sharing and cooperation. Pakistan, Afghanistan and the International Security Assistance Force stationed in Kabul have agreed to increase the number of border coordination centres to prevent illegal crossing. Presently, there is only one such centre operating and now three more centres will be established to improve the coordination among the tripartite forces. COAS General Parvez Kayani reached Kabul early Friday for crucial talks with Afghan and US military leaders on new approaches to fight Taliban and other militant groups in South Asia.